Inheritance

Title: Inheritance

Author: Christopher Paolini

Pages: 860

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A-

Synopsis: The time has come for Eragon Shadeslayer, the elf Arya Shadeslayer, the Varden, the Dwarfs, the Urgals and the Surdans to fight Galbatorix.  While they know they only have the slimmest bit of hope for success, they must sacrifice for the sake of Alagaesia.

My Review: This was a very satisfying conclusion to the Inheritance Series.  There were enough unexpected twists and turns that I never felt like I knew what was going to happen.  The writing quality seemed better than any of the other books (as it should be since Paolini is quite a bit older than he was when Eragon was first published).

Brisingr

Title: Brisingr

Author: Christopher Paolini

Pages: 763

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A-

Synopsis: Eragon and Saphira are still with the Varden, but Eragon has left with his cousin Roran to try and find and save his fiance Katrina from the Raz'ac. Eragon meets Murtagh on the battlefield once again and then makes the trip to Farthen Dur to witness the coronation of the new dwarf king before making a quick trip to Ellesmera to visit with the elves.

My Review: I really liked this book, but I felt that there really wasn't a climax. This is probably due to the fact that originally there was only supposed to be three books in the series, but it has been extended to four (and I hope that it won't be forever before the next book is released).

Eldest

Title: Eldest

Author: Christopher Paolini

Pages: 681

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A

Synopsis: Eragon doesn't have much time to celebrate the Varden's victory over the Urgals before he must leave to continue his training as a Rider with the Elves in Du Weldenvarden. The Varden are planning to move all of their people to Surda in order to prepare to meet Galbatorix's army in battle. At the same time, the Ra'zac have returned to his hometown of Carvahall to try and take his cousin Roran in order to get more information about Eragon. Eragon must train well enough and hard enough to lead the Varden in battle.

My Review: I last read this book in July of '06, and reread it in order to refresh my mind for the newest book of the series. I think that I liked this book better than the first. I enjoy the multiple storylines and twists of the plot. Much like New Moon (the second book of the twilight series), this book explains a lot of the history of the species of the book.

Eragon

Title: Eragon

Author: Christopher Paolini

Pages: 513

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: B+

Synopsis: While hunting deep in the Spine, 15-year-old Eragon finds a majestic blue stone. He returns home empty-handed from the hunt and tries to sell the stone for food. Nobody is willing to buy the stone and before long a dragon hatches from the stone. Eragon and the dragon form a bond and Eragon becomes a Dragon Rider. Eragon's uncle is killed by the evil Raz'ac after which Eragon leaves his hometown to try and extract revenge.

My Review: Paolini started this book when he was only 15 and it shows in his writing. I really, really like the books and the stories but sometimes the writing is a little cheesy and tacky. If the writing had been more refined and polished I would have given this book an A. This is one of those few books that force me to stay up late reading "just one more chapter."

From the Book: "(p. 460) Engaged in a fiery dance, their bodies were linked and seperated by the flashing blades. At times they nearly touched, taut skin only a hair's breadth away, but then momentum would whirl them apart, and they would withdraw for a second, only to join again. Their sinuous forms wove together like twisting ropes of windblown smoke."